15 Classic Bar Drinks You Can Order Anywhere And What’s In Them
If you’re no longer a freshman in college, I hope you’ve moved on from ordering vodka sodas at the bar. The bartender probably doesn’t take you seriously. Here’s a list of 15 classic bar drinks you can order anywhere and earn the respect you deserve; or you could just order these classic cocktails and impress your friends.
1. Martini
If you are a sophisticated girl like Carrie Bradshaw, then this is the drink for you. It’s usually made with gin but it pairs nicely with vodka as well. Ask for a “dirty martini, stirred, not shaken.” If you want it dry, there’s less vermouth. If you order it dirty, there’s additional olive juice added into the mix. Ordering a martini perfect has equal amounts of vermouth and gin in it. If you get it with a twist, you’d rather have lemons in your drink over olives.
Ingredients
Vodka or gin
Vermouth
Garnished with an olive
2. Old Fashioned
If you are a whisky-lover, then an Old Fashioned is something you should be ordering regularly at the bar. This is a drink with some serious force. This is a sweet yet tasteful cocktail.
Ingredients
Bourbon or Whiskey
Bitters
Club Soda
Sugar
Muddled Cherries and Oranges
3. Manhattan
Talk about a classic whiskey cocktail not to be fucked with. This sweet cocktail is always great after a long day of work to unwind. These cocktails are severed straight up in a cocktail glass and garnished with a Maraschino cherry. They’re shaken, not stirred and strained into a chilled glass. This is a seriously business-esque drink. Basically you work on Wall Street if you sip this cocktail.
Ingredients
Bourbon or Rye
Carpano Antica vermouth
Angostura Bitters’
4. Sidecar
This is the only good cocktail to emerge during America’s worst nightmare; prohibition. Picture jazz filled nights and a seriously suave ambiance. A sidecar is perfect for this type of occasion. It’s a great introduction to brandy if you aren’t already a fan. These cocktails are made with Cognac, but sometimes with bourbon. Order one and you are going to look like one sly chick.
Ingredients
Cointreau
Lemon Juice
Cognac
5. Dark and Stormy
This drink isn’t too impressive but it’s always fun to say. You definitely have had a combination of it in one form or another. It’s a bit of an acquired taste but you’ll get used to it, especially if you like rum.
Ingredients
Ginger Beer
Dark Rum
Bitters
6. Mind Eraser
The name is fitting. If you are looking to have yourself a night, your go to is right here. This drink is served usually served in a glass or as a shot. What’s it taste like? Coffee! It very well might just keep you going all night. Although it’s only three ingredients it’s bound to get you rocked.
Ingredients
Vodka
Kahlua
Club Soda
7. Mojito
Looking for something a bit more refreshing? A mojito can do you no wrong. This is a pretty simple drink that can’t really be fucked up. If you love lime and mint, this is your calling. It’s a cocktail that tastes more on the crisp side and is downright tasty.
Ingredients
White Rum
Mint
Soda Water
Lime
Sugar
8. Cosmopolitan
Another classy as fuck drink. This drink is the lovechild of the Cape Codder and the Sidecar. Thanks to Sex in the City, you all know this classic cocktail… or should. Feeling fancy on a GNO (girls night out)? A cosmo is sure to shake things up for you.
Ingredients
Vodka Citron
Cointreau
Cranberry Juice
Fresh Lime Juice
9. Whiskey Sour
This drink is a classic bar drink that will have bartenders questioning if you truly are 21. No offense if this is your go-to. It’s essentially a drink that plays it safe and very sweet. People claim it’s a balanced drink but it’s not. It’s essentially amaretto and sour mix. If you are in the mood for a cocktail that’ll have you puckering, go for the whiskey sour. Tip: sip-slowly.
Ingredients
Whiskey
Fresh Lemon Juice
Simple Syrup
Angostura Bitters
Egg White
10. Mai Tai
In the mood for a seriously fruity and playful cocktail? The Mai Tai is sweet and a classic bar drink favorite. This is more of a beachy drink that goes well in tropical settings. It’ll make you want to throw on a leigh and have yourself a party. It’s served over ice and stirred and usually comes in some sort of a funky glass.
Ingredients
Bacardi Light Rum
151 Rum
Orange Curacau
Lime Juice
Orgeat Syrup
Mint
Cherry
Pineapple
11. Negroni
This is a pre-meal drink that originated in Florence Italy. This is drink has a serious zing after-taste. It’s a simplistic drink. It may look sweet but it is strong and bitter. Don’t expect syrup to mask any flavors in this one. This drink is perfect before a large meal. Seriously, drink it before a large meal, not some sort of snack.
Ingredients
Gin
Campari
Sweet Vermouth
Orange Twist
Prosecco (optional)
12. Pisco Sour
In the mood for a light classic bar drink? A Pisco Sour is exactly what you would expect based off the name. It has a sweet aftertaste with hints of grape or apple. If you are looking for a casual sip, this classic bar cocktail is the one you should be ordering.
Ingredients
Peruvian Pisco
Lime Juice
Simple Syrup
Egg White
Angostura Bitters
13. Mint Julep
This drink has a smoky taste to it. Don’t know what I mean by this? Then maybe you order it. A mint julep, like its name suggests, has a minty taste to it but is combined with a liquor we know to be a bit more harsh: bourbon. If you are looking to make this drink a bit less sweet, ask the bartender to throw in some lemon juice. They are rich and syrupy and decently delicious.
Ingredients
Mint Leaves
Bourbon Whisky
Water
Powdered Sugar
14. French 75
This is a combative and deceptive cocktail. While it looks dainty and fizzy like a mimosa, a single drink can give you a nice buzz. Word on the street is taking a sip of a French 75 is like getting shelled by a French 75mm gun. Intriguing right? If you’re in the mood for a boozy and bubbly cocktail, this will do the trick. You might even feel a bit like Ella Fitzgerald. How classy. This is a better and more interesting take on the classic bar drink we all sip at brunch: a Mimosa.
Ingredients
Champagne
Lemon Juice
Gin
Simple Syrup
15. Long Island Iced Tea
It’s a classic, but definitely low on my list of drinks to order in a bar. In fact, it’s the at the absolute bottom of my classic bar drinks to order. If you are in the mood for a drink that dates back to the 70’s perhaps this is your go to. No it doesn’t taste any tea, but it’s got a similar taste. It’s got an eclectic number of ingredients in there. This drink reminds me of the Jersey Shore honestly. Heads up: bartenders usually use the lower-shelf stuff. Order yourself a Fiji Island Iced Tea instead.
Ingredients
Vodka
Tequila
Rum
Gin
Triple Sec
Sweet and Sour Mix
Coca-Cola
What are some other classic bar drinks you love?! Drop us a line!!
Featured Image Source: Lauren Ross Photography
